Georgia Asks Switzerland to Freeze Officials’ Accounts

Georgia has officially requested from Switzerland to block the bank accounts of the several former officials from ex-President Shevardnadze’s government.

The western media reported that Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli told Swiss daily Le Temps daily on January 9 that the list included former ministers and MPs suspected of fraud. But it did not include Eduard Shevardnadze or any of his family members.

Georgia’s request was made last December. However, Switzerland returned it with the request for more details, as the request, sent in December, was too general and lacked sufficient detail, said Folco Galli.

President-election Mikheil Saakashvili said on January 4 that introduction of “the drastic anti-corruption legislation” would be one of his first steps after taking over the President’s office.

In an interview with the Associated Press on January 5 Saakashvili also said that assets of former President Shevardnadze’s family would be targeted in his anti-corruption drive. 

“I never promised Shevardnadze we would not take assets he misappropriated. I promised him his physical security,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.

On January 8, Mikheil Saakashvili said in the interview to the Rustavi 2 television that the government should sell the Krtsanisi presidential residence and put the money in the state budget.

“I need maximum a two-room apartment, one office and a few rooms for my staff in my new residence, which will cost four times cheaper than it was during the Shevardnadze’s government,” Saakashvili added.

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